The team found that patients with elevated ALT levels were more likely to be seropositive for anti-HCV, seropositive for HbsAg, male, to drink alcohol, to smoke, and to have undergone blood transfusion.

An association was found between elevated ALT levels and the consumption of cigarettes and alcohol among anti-HCV-seropositive subjects.

However, no such association was found among HBsAg-seropositive subjects.

The odds of elevated ALT levels were 7-times higher for the anti-HCV-seropositive patients who smoked 1 or more packs of cigarettes per day and frequently drank alcohol than for those who did not.

Dr Chong-Shan Wang, of the A-Lein Community Health Center, Kaohsiung County, said on behalf of fellow authors, "Smoking and alcohol consumption are independently associated with elevated ALT levels among anti-HCV-seropositive individuals, but not among HBsAg-seropositive individuals."

"Patients who are seropositive for anti-HCV are strongly advised not to smoke and drink alcohol, to reduce the possible risk for aggravating liver dysfunction," it was concluded.